The Boca Digest

Two brothers battling a rare and terminal disease need extra help getting around.

A complete stranger is stepping up so the family can travel together.

A New Jersey man will be running across New Zealand to raise thousands of dollars for the two siblings with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), to purchase a wheelchair-accessible van for the Horton family who currently need better transportation for the boys.

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Recent News 

6 Most Instagrammable Locations in Boca Raton – A quick list of the most pictures worthy places in Boca Raton! Which one has number one? I think you’ll be surprised.

Holocaust survivor from Boca Raton shares her story ahead of Tuesday night honor – Boca Raton resident Rita Hilton is sharing her story of surviving the Holocaust. Hilton will accept the prestigious Elie Wiesel Award on behalf of all South Florida survivors at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s 2019 South Florida ‘What You Do Matters’ Dinner Tuesday night.

Finally, plans are set for Boca Raton park on Intracoastal Waterway – Amid the many construction projects in downtown Boca Raton, a new 6-acre park, on both sides of the Palmetto Park Road bridge, is set to offer a respite from the building boom.

Upcoming Events

Super Sunday 2019 at Boston’s on the Beach – Join us for the Ultimate Super Sunday 2019 Party at the South Florida home of the New England Patriots!! Ticket prices include: Guaranteed reserved seat/ barstool that you get to pick, premium open bar (includes drinks, house wine, all draft and bottled beers )

33rd Annual Meseum Art Festival (2/2, 2/3)– The streets of Mizner Park will once again be filled with a tremendous selection of art from across the country as the Boca Raton Museum of Art presents its 33rd Annual Museum Art Festival.

Pirate Invasion 5K/10K Run/walk Boca Raton – (2/2) –On February 2nd, Presenting Sponsor PurePoint Financial, Florence Fuller Child Development Centers (FFCDC), The Rotary Club of Boca Raton, and The Boca Raton Children’s Museum (BRCM) will join forces to benefit the under-served children in our community from 6 weeks through college age with scholarships!

2019 Boca Raton Outdoor Juried Art Festival (2/2) – Enjoy a nice evening with food, music, drinks, and fun, promoting a positive start to your new year and well being!! Complimentary Stretching from Ex-Tensions, Acupuncture, Presentations, Natural beauty products, healthy and vegan food options, and local fitness professionals

Boca Raton Fine Art Show (1/26, 1/27) – Watercolor artist, Claudia Hafner is participating. Booth 113. Original watercolor paintings, large-format reproductions and giclee prints. Sea Turtles, birds, wildlife, flora.

Victor Wainwright & The Train Featuring The Victor Wainwright Horns (2/2) – Join us at The Venu for a magical evening as we pay homage to some of the greatest artists of all time.

Collecting comic books has been a lifelong adventure for Randy Lawrence.

“My dad kind of started me off,” he said. “I think it was his way of getting me to read.”

Over the past 50 years, his love for comic books has grown, as has his collection — that is until recently, when he stopped by his storage unit.

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Recent News 

Subculture Coffee among restaurants offering free food and drinks for furloughed federal workers – A South Florida-based restaurant and nightclub company is offering free meals and drinks for federal workers and their immediate family who are not getting paid during the government shutdown, which is now the longest in U.S. history.

Six Broward County teens face auto burglary charges in Boca Raton – Boca Raton police say they have been kept busy tracking down and arresting a half-dozen teens suspected of burglarizing automobiles in the city. Police say they stopped 18-year-old Tyre McNeal and a 15-year-old who were trying door handles in Vistazo. They say McNeal was in an unreported stolen vehicle from Vista Hills.

Upcoming Events

Tim Reynolds is Playing at the Funky Biscuit (1/26)– With a musical career spanning more than thirty-five years, guitarist and sonic innovator Tim Reynolds is known for his masterful command of melody and timing and for his uncanny ability to improvise on any instrument he touches.

Romeo & Juliet at Mizner Park Amphitheater (1/25, 1/26, 1/27) – Experience the passion, romance, and dazzling swordplay of this classic but profoundly relevant and entertaining production of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet; one of the most famous and moving plays ever written. FREE admission for all to the beautiful Mizner Park Amphitheater in the heart of Boca Raton, Florida.

New Year’s Resolution Health and Wellness Event (1/25) – Enjoy a nice evening with food, music, drinks, and fun, promoting a positive start to your new year and well being!! Complimentary Stretching from Ex-Tensions, Acupuncture, Presentations, Natural beauty products, healthy and vegan food options, and local fitness professionals

Boca Raton Fine Art Show (1/26, 1/27) – Watercolor artist, Claudia Hafner is participating. Booth 113. Original watercolor paintings, large-format reproductions and giclee prints. Sea Turtles, birds, wildlife, flora.

A Night with the Stars: Sinatra, Streisand, and Bennett Tribute (1/26) – Join us at The Venu for a magical evening as we pay homage to some of the greatest artists of all time.

Politics and Business

Ted Deutch: If Donald Trump told Michael Cohen to lie it violates oath of office –Boca Raton’s Democratic U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch said on a national broadcast Friday morning that if reports are true that President Donald Trump told his then-lawyer Michael Cohen to lie about Russia then that would constitute a violation of Trump’s oath of office.

Polen Capital Increases Long-Term Alignment with Additional Equity Purchase–Polen Capital announced that on January 4, 2019, it purchased an additional 11% of the firm from the Polen Family Trust. Employees now own 71% of the firm. This purchase is part of the firm’s business strategy to further expand employee equity participation and to continue to align its success with the long-term success of its clients.

Joseph’s Classic Market Coming to Town Center at Boca Raton – Simon, a global leader in premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations, announced that Joseph’s Classic Market will join Town Center at Boca Raton, opening in spring 2020. Joseph’s Classic Market will span 14,700 square feet situated on the former Piñon Grill and Blue Martini locations.

DeSantis pledges at least $2 million for Jewish school security, wants to sanction Airbnb –DeSantis said Tuesday he wants to sanction Airbnb over the company’s decision not to list properties in the West Bank. He also pledged to provide at least $2 million in funding for security at Jewish day schools.

Boca Company Sued For Exploding Vape Pen Battery -A South Florida man was critically injured by an exploding “vape pen battery” purchased at a Boca Raton Vaping store. That’s the claim made in a new lawsuit filed in  Palm Beach County Circuit Court. According to the suit, Robert Cazenave purchased a vape pen battery manufactured by GTek Solutions, LLC, a now-defunct south Florida company. That battery was allegedly sold by “Boca Glades Market, LLC,” which operates under the names “Vapes and More III” and “BocaVapes, INC” in Boca Raton.

A man was trying to cross the tracks with his bicycle when he was hit by a Brightline train Thursday afternoon. Boca Raton police spokesman Mark Economou said the unidentified man “was clipped by a northbound train.” The accident happened around 2 p.m. at Camino Real and South Dixie Highway in Boca Raton.

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Recent News 

Blue Martini Boca Raton closed; Italian market opening in its place – After a rocky history with the city, Blue Martini Boca Raton closed this month, making room for a new Italian specialty market. A a popular late-night lounge at the Town Center mall complex, closed its doors this month after a tumultuous relationship with the city.

Aspiring Elementary Ed Teacher Inspires Young Minds – Inspired by her fourth-grade teacher, Breanna Carter ’18 of Springboro, Ohio, prepared herself to become the teacher she aspired to be. “She made learning easy and fun, which caused me to want to do the same.”

Upcoming Events

BocaCann! Cannabis Education & Networking (1/21)– It’s an exciting time in the cannabis industry and we’ve teamed up with Dr. Barry Gordon, Dr. Michelle Weiner, and Dr. Anya Temer as well as industry experts and sponsors to bring the community together in downtown Boca Raton.

Sunday Funday with Boca Save our Beaches (1/21) 

At Boca Save our Beaches, we believe that education is key, no matter what your age is.

• Global wildlife populations have fallen by 60% in 4 decades
• 90% of seabirds have plastics in their stomachs
• There will be more plastic than fish in the sea by 2050

Picnic at the Park (1/21) – Burgers, dogs, and all the typical picnic fixings. Relax and socialize with freethinkers. A great way to unwind after cleaning up litter from the roadside. We’ll post the pavilion number on the day of the event.

The Big Rock Band (1/19) – Big 105.9’s very own Big Rock Band is an 8-piece Rock cover band from South Florida whose modern take on classic rock from the 70’s thru 90’s has established them as leaders in the party-rock revolution Blending elements of Rock and Groove for their distinct high energy performance. Big Rock Band sounds like the musical love child of Sly & the Family Stone , Aerosmith, and Pink Floyd.

Exceptional Singles Party (1/19) – Are you Exceptional, Single and Fun? Are you between the ages of 30s to 50s? Would you like to meet some amazing singles in your area? Then this event is for you! Come to meet some exceptional people, have fun and even more. Great opportunity to meet the matchmaker and learn about the magic of matchmaking. Please dress to impress, that first impression truly matters.

Politics and Business

Gov. DeSantis’ suspensions shake up South Florida politics – Gov. Ron DeSantis’s aggressive assertion of his authority to remove elected officials left Democrats wondering whether he was targeting their party and who might be next.

Boca’s Steven Abrams steps down after 30 years in political arena – For District 4 County Commissioner Steven L. Abrams of Boca Raton, it was not just time to step down after nine and a half years on the county board, the day marked the finale of 30 years of public service. Those three decades also included five terms as a Boca Raton city council member, mayor of the city, past president of the Palm Beach County League of Cities, Planning and Zoning Board member and founding board member of the Florida League of Mayors.

A closer look at Boca Raton health-focused restaurant Farmer’s Table – “Eating well shouldn’t require sacrifice – whether that’s time, money or quality ingredients – which is the driving force behind everything we do at Farmer’s Table,” said Giannuzzi, who collaborates with Schenk on the menus. “We’re more than a restaurant; we are a destination to grab a meal, linger and celebrate a lifestyle of wellness.”

Billionaire family sells new mansion in Boca Raton for $14M – A co-owner of the Sheetz convenience store chain in the Mid-Atlantic has sold a recently completed mansion on the Intracoastal Waterway in Boca Raton for $14 million. G. Robert Sheetz sold the 9,333-square-foot home at 1160 Royal Palm Way, in the Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club, to the Bellissimo Land Trust, with attorney Andrew B. Blasi as trustee. The price equated to $1,500 per square foot.

Boca Raton Regional Hospital seeks to raise $250M, expand campus – Boca Raton Regional Hospital has launched a campaign to raise $250 million for expanding, including the construction of a patient tower on its campus.The announcement came as the nonprofit hospital prepares for a merger with Miami-based Baptist Health South Florida. That affiliate is expected to be finalized in  summer 2019. However, BRRH will maintain its identity.

A former student armed with a rifle stalked the halls of a Florida school, breaking windows and shooting terrified students in a massacre that left 17 people dead Wednesday, authorities said.

The suspect, Nikolas Cruz, 19, had once been expelled from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School over disciplinary problems, Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie said, without providing specifics.

Cruz allegedly turned on the fire alarm, sending many students running outside, where he fired shot after shot before following people inside the building, officials said.

Suspect in South Florida school massacre booked into jail, charged with 17 counts of murder

Shortly before 5:45 a.m. Thursday, the young man accused in a shooting that left more than a dozen people dead was escorted into Broward’s Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale. Nikolas Cruz was surrounded by Broward Sheriff’s deputies who walked him inside the facility.

Read full article…

Brightline train hits car stopped on tracks in Boca Raton

Read full article…

Bridal shop in Boca Raton responds to questions of her store closing

The owner of a Bridal shop in Boca Raton says she is closing down. This comes after customers were trying to get ahold of the owner for weeks, wondering if they were going to get their dresses.

Brittany Burns owns a Bridal shop but sent out an email Monday night saying her store was closing and she was moving home with her family.

This weekend’s events

1. Festival of the Arts: Kathleen Battle – Grammy Award winning American soprano Kathleen Battle represents the pinnacle of accomplishment in the world of music. With an incomparable voice, and a career that spans the entire globe, Battle has won numerous awards, and has appeared on the greatest stages with some of the most renowned musicians in the world.

2. Happy Hour With Mike Mineo – Mike Mineo is a Nashville based singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Originally from South Florida and coined the genre “Beach Soul”. Mike has released 5 full length albums and 3 EPs. Each release has experimented with different themes and genres with an impressive prolificness and attention to content that provides sustenance for the soul of the listener.

3. A Very Special Evening With Jesse Colin Young – For 50 years Jesse Colin Young has been singing songs about peace, relationships and the environment. From his folk days in Boston and his first record, Soul Of a City Boy, he has articulated and recorded the tumultuous times of the 60s, 70’s, 80’s to the present, while reminding us that it is all about family, community and the precious natural world we live in.

4. Boca Raton Green Market – Grab your shopping bags and head on over to the Boca Raton GreenMarket! Boca’s GreenMarket has continually been dedicated to local food production and consumption….produce that travels from farm direct to the dining table……and through the process supporting the Florida agricultural industry and the economy of our south Florida area.

Write for Boca Digest

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See you next week

– Tim Stoddart

*** This most recent school shooting is horrifying and sad. Of course our thoughts and prayers go to the family but I ask that everyone takes a second to hug the person next to them and reach out to someone who may be struggling. You never know the impact you can have by simply lending a helping hand.***

12/1/17

Good morning,

The weather is finally breaking. It’s 6 am and I am sitting on my hammock writing this week’s newsletter. It feels so good outside right now. Every December, I am reminded as to why I live here. Yeah the summers can be brutal, but the winters are glorious. There have been a few nights when I even put on a hoodie, and that felt great!

We had a great week here at Boca Digest. We have some exciting announcements in this week’s newsletter, as well as the top stories for the week to keep you informed. Let’s get started.

– Tim Stoddart

Check Out the Boca Raton Green Market

Grab your shopping bags and head over to the Boca Raton Green Market.

No where else can you find such an array of fresh produce, friendly people, organic products and healthy, beautiful foods. Boca’s Green Market has continuously brought us locally sourced food and this event has a great impact in supporting the Florida agricultural industry and the overall south Florida economy.

Read more…

Sign Up for This Years Meadow Park Biathlon

Man, I’m really tempted to give this a go.

Next Saturday, the annual Meadows Park Biathlon is happening. This challenging, yet doable race is for anyone who wants to get a few miles in before they start their weekend. Read more about the event and sign up below.

Read more…

The Best Restaurant Directory in Town

This week, we finally launched the Boca Raton Restaurant Directory. We are aiming to put together the best list of resources for all restaurants in Boca. We will have reviews, pictures, ratings and even locations on the map.

Eventually we will expand to other businesses, but for now, let’s eat!

Read more…

Add Your Listing

For the next month or so, we will be giving away free directory listings. Come the new year, we will be charging $99 for the year, and continue to increase prices as the site goes. If you have a restaurant, a bakery, a taco stand, please sign up.

Sign up now…

Write for Boca Digest

As our audience grows, we want to continue to open it up to the wonderful people of Boca Raton. We invite you to write an article for our website. You can feature a link to a project you are working on in your author bio.

Keep in mind, if you are promoting a business, that is a paid service. Find out more at the link below.

Write for Boca Digest…

Thanks everyone! As usual, have a great weekend and feel free to reach out with any questions! You can contact me here.